Azad Kashmir PM Attique for rational approach by India for Peace
By Nida Butt - 'Pakistan Times' Staff Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Attique Ahmed has asked the Indian leadership to think rational to ensure peace in the region which is the only guarantee for progress and prosperity.

Speaking to 'Pakistan Times' [Daily Web Newspaper] he said, that due to unprecedented struggle of Kashmiri people and the leadership abilities of President General Pervez Musharraf the issue of Kashmir has become the topic of discussion in entire world.

It was under this situation that a peace process was initiated with ultimate objective of an amicable solution of Kashmir dispute.

The Pakistani and Kashmiri leadership had gone miles ahead to ensure smooth flow of Indo-Pak dialogue process, he said, adding some statements from the Indian side were disappointing.

He said the people of Kashmir as well as of Pakistan are least scared of the Indian threats of hot pursue in AJK, adding, President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had demonstrated great deal of statesmanship while responding to such irrationalities.

Attique said issuance of such statements have disclosed the Indian hidden desires of expansion and regional hegemony.

He said that it is unfortunate for a nation to back track from the commitment made by its founding leaders in public.

Explaining, he said that Joahar Lal Nehru had promised the right of self determination to Kashmiris, adding the Kashmiris kept waiting for the implementation of this promise for decades.

They (Kashmiris) were compelled to launch political movement in support of their inherited right of self determination because the Indians failed to materialize their pledges.

He said improvement in Indo-Pak relations is in the interest of all the stake holder with India on the top.

The AJK PM said that entire world community is well aware of the fact that Pakistanis and the Kashmiris have nothing to do with the incidents like Mumbai bombing at a time when the process of composite dialogue process was going ahead.

He said the people of Kashmir as well as of Pakistan are deeply committed for the success of peace talks, adding, how can they indulge in activities which are aimed at derailing the process.

There are a number of extremists groups in India who do not want peace in region to secure their vested interests. It is due to the influence of such elements that Indian leadership jumps in blame game against Pakistan soon after the occurrence of any untoward incident in that country, he added.

About the priorities of his government in AJK Attique said that Muslim Conference being a strong political institution, believes in strengthening of all the institution.

He said the top priority of the newly elected government would be the appropriate rehabilitation of the quake affected people, adding efforts would be made to provide maximum employment opportunities to unemployed youths.

He said the government will give special attention to promotion of education with special thrust to technical training, the AJK PM said, adding technical education would be introduced at primary level.

To improve the services of health sector the government would ensure the availability of initial health assistance at village level, he said.●